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Ward's Reports Estimated Production

7 January 2000

Ward's Reports Estimated Production

    SOUTHFIELD, Mich., Jan. 7 -- Vehicle production this week in
the U.S., Canada and Mexico is expected to hit an estimated 336,955 units, up
from the 2,792 cars and trucks built during last week's holiday break for
almost all manufacturers, according to Ward's Automotive Reports.
    Including this week's estimates, calendar year North American output now
totals 336,955 vehicles, up 10.9 percent from like-1999's pace.
    In the U.S., automakers are expected to produce 246,143 vehicles this
week, up substantially from the 1,971 cars and trucks built last week.  To
date, calendar 2000 U.S. vehicle output totals an estimated 246,143, units, up
15.5 percent from the 213,128 vehicles built in like-1999.
    This holiday week's Canadian vehicle production is estimated at 61,443, a
tremendous increase over the 120 units assembled last week.  Estimated
calendar-2000 Canadian vehicle production now stands at 61,443 units, up 7.4
percent from the 57,188 vehicles produced in like-1999.
    Of the cars and trucks slated for production this week in the U.S.,
General Motors Corp. accounted for 32.5 percent; Ford Motor Co., 29.8 percent;
Chrysler of DaimlerChrysler, 13.9 percent; Honda of America Mfg. Inc., 5.6
percent; Toyota Motor Mfg. Inc., 4.8 percent; New United Motor Mfg. Inc., 2.9
percent; Nissan Motor Mfg. Corp., 2.3 percent; Subaru-Isuzu Automotive Inc.,
0.8 percent; AutoAlliance International Inc., 1.3 percent; Mitsubishi Motor
Mfg. of America Inc., 1.6 percent; Mercedes-Benz U.S. of DaimlerChrysler, 0.7
percent; BMW of North America Inc., 0.4 percent; and other manufacturers, 3.4
percent.

                       NORTH AMERICA FACTORY PRODUCTION
                This Week  Last Week  Same Week  To Date  To Date  Pct. Change
                Estimated  Revised    Last Year    2000    1999  2000 vs. 1999
    U.S.
    Cars           99,760        0       94,571   99,760   94,571     5.5
    Trucks        146,383    1,971      118,557  146,383  118,557    23.5
    TOTAL         246,143    1,971      213,128  246,143  213,128    15.5
    Canada
    Cars           33,616        0       32,195   33,616   32,195     4.4
    Trucks         27,827      120       24,993   27,827   24,993    11.3
    TOTAL          61,443      120       57,188   61,443   57,188     7.4
    Mexico
    Cars           20,709        0       19,737   20,709   22,089    -6.2
    Trucks          8,660      701        9,241    8,660   11,348   -23.7
    TOTAL          29,369      701       28,978   29,369   33,437   -12.2
    U.S.\Canada\Mexico
    Cars          154,085        0      146,503  154,085  148,855     3.5
    Trucks        182,870    2,792      152,791  182,870  154,898    18.1
    GRAND         336,955    2,792      299,294  336,955  303,753    10.9
    TOTAL

    Note:  All figures include medium- and heavy-duty truck production.

    On the web:  http://www.wardsauto.com